Food poisoning or traveler's diarrhea
Overview
Food poisoning or traveler's diarrhea is a digestive condition characterized by frequent, loose, watery bowel movements that occur after consuming contaminated food or water. This condition typically includes symptoms like abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and urgent need to defecate, often developing within hours to days of exposure to harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Common Causes
Food poisoning typically occurs when you consume contaminated food or water containing harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Common culprits include undercooked meats, unwashed produce, dairy products left at room temperature, and foods prepared with poor hygiene practices. Traveler's diarrhea often develops when visiting areas with different sanitation standards, where your digestive system encounters unfamiliar bacteria or pathogens. Eating street food, drinking tap water, or consuming ice in certain regions can increase your risk of exposure to these illness-causing microorganisms.
Severity Levels
Mild: You may experience loose stools a few times daily with minor stomach discomfort that doesn't significantly impact your daily activities. Symptoms are manageable and you can maintain normal eating and drinking.
Moderate: You'll have more frequent watery bowel movements with noticeable abdominal cramping and possibly some nausea. This may interfere with work or social activities, and you'll need to stay close to bathroom facilities.
Severe: You experience very frequent, urgent bowel movements with intense cramping, persistent vomiting, and signs of dehydration like dizziness or weakness. This requires immediate medical attention and may prevent you from maintaining normal activities or keeping fluids down.
Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe dehydration (dizziness, dry mouth, little to no urination), high fever above 102°F, blood in stool, or severe abdominal pain. Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms persist for more than 3-5 days, worsen instead of improving, or if you're unable to keep fluids down for 24 hours. Those with compromised immune systems, chronic health conditions, or anyone over 65 should consult a doctor sooner rather than later.
4k+ Collection Centres
90k+ Biomarkers Tested
Early Detection